ID :
31876
Sun, 11/23/2008 - 22:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31876
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AMIEN RAIS: ECONOMICALLY RI STILL BEING COLONIZED BY FOREIGNERS
Banda Aceh, Nov 22 (ANTARA) - A noted reform figure, Amien Rais, said Indonesia was in economic terms still being colonized, namely by foreign corporations operating in the country.
"History is being repeated. We are being colonized by a new form of VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) represented by companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron as well as other foreign corporations," he said in a scientific management dialogue at the University of Syiah Kuala in Banda Aceh on Saturday.
He said the new form of colonialization was not found only in the economic sector such as shipping, telecommunications and mining, but also in the field of education where shares in educational institutions can be held by foreign parties.
At present, the equity of some of state-owned companies was dominated by foreigners. More saddening, according to Rais, the country's natural resources managed by foreign corporations gave litte benefit to Indonesia.
Taking as example of an offshore exploration in Natuna, Riau Island Province, the operation of foreign corporations there in the past ten years only gave zero percent of benefit to Indonesia, including the gold mining activity of Freeport in Papua.
In fact, Rais further said, so far there was a misleading policy in the management of natural resources especially in oil and gas sector whereas provisions set in joint venture documents were really illogical, because Indonesia can only enjoy 20 percent of the operations while the rest (80 percent) was for export.
Some regions in Indonesia were still undergoing blackouts on account of less supply of fuel oil, while the oil and gas produced in Indonesia was being exported to other countries.
Rais further added that many foreign corporations had an influential power toward the leader of this country, while the people had no right to know the management of natural resources.
"Without our knowledge, ExxonMobil in Natuna built a submarine gas pipeline to Singapore and is selling natural gas and oil directly to that country," he added.
Rais who is a former Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly said these conditions were inseparable from the corrupt mentality of the power elite in this country which had provided a toll road to foreign corporations to exploit the country's natural resources without benefit for the people.
"History is being repeated. We are being colonized by a new form of VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) represented by companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron as well as other foreign corporations," he said in a scientific management dialogue at the University of Syiah Kuala in Banda Aceh on Saturday.
He said the new form of colonialization was not found only in the economic sector such as shipping, telecommunications and mining, but also in the field of education where shares in educational institutions can be held by foreign parties.
At present, the equity of some of state-owned companies was dominated by foreigners. More saddening, according to Rais, the country's natural resources managed by foreign corporations gave litte benefit to Indonesia.
Taking as example of an offshore exploration in Natuna, Riau Island Province, the operation of foreign corporations there in the past ten years only gave zero percent of benefit to Indonesia, including the gold mining activity of Freeport in Papua.
In fact, Rais further said, so far there was a misleading policy in the management of natural resources especially in oil and gas sector whereas provisions set in joint venture documents were really illogical, because Indonesia can only enjoy 20 percent of the operations while the rest (80 percent) was for export.
Some regions in Indonesia were still undergoing blackouts on account of less supply of fuel oil, while the oil and gas produced in Indonesia was being exported to other countries.
Rais further added that many foreign corporations had an influential power toward the leader of this country, while the people had no right to know the management of natural resources.
"Without our knowledge, ExxonMobil in Natuna built a submarine gas pipeline to Singapore and is selling natural gas and oil directly to that country," he added.
Rais who is a former Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly said these conditions were inseparable from the corrupt mentality of the power elite in this country which had provided a toll road to foreign corporations to exploit the country's natural resources without benefit for the people.
